Surveillance court says opinions aren't sealed

6/12/13 4:20 PM EDT

The secretive federal court that oversees surveillance requests like those that were the subject of high-profile leaks last week ruled Wednesday that the court's rules don't prevent the executive branch from disclosing court opinions and orders.

The ruling, which was opposed by the Justice Department, was sought by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. That organization is seeking copies of a FISC opinion via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

The decision from Judge Reggie Walton does not mean that any records from the surveillance court will be officially released. However, the decision clears the way for the EFF's FOIA suit to be heard.

"As a general matter, it would be redundant for this Court to impose on the Executive Branch additional restrictions on the disclosure of information about sensitive foreign intelligence activities contained in FISC records beyond those imposed by Executive Order and statute," Walton wrote in a seven-page order posted here.

The ruling may cause a review within the Obama Administration of whether all FISC orders and opinions need to be classified in their entirety. If the administration maintains that they do, EFF likely won't be able to get them even after today's ruling.

But the decision could trigger more consideration of the issue by the Obama administration, which now basically has a free hand to disclose such orders and opinions.